Day 21 - Pen (inne) ultimate

Byrness - Barrowburn

Today's miles: 16.7
Today's Ascent: 3500 ft
Today's Descent: 3448 ft
Total miles so far: 266.2
Star team member: (Affiliated) Hayleigh and Neil for pulling out all the stops to bring us food.

Well, today was our penultimate day! I really don’t know whether I am happy or sad, I mean, I will be so happy doing absolutely nothing! But I will miss travelling from place to place, but definitely not walking consecutively every day! Anyway, apologies for the late post, we were staying in a deer hut with no WiFi or mains electricity .

We set off from our B and B and walked along the road to join the PW . We had a steep uphill climb to do, to climb out of Byrness, through all the ferns and along a narrow path.

Walking up through the Forest

We passed some chopped down trees and passed a bizarre telly on a post- a bit weird?! We continued on up and passed some big boulders hanging over the edge. We reached the ridge at the top, the sun was out and the breeze was blowing.

Border TV (no cricket)

There is quite a big, well known reservoir called Kielder, and we had a great view of it from here. I think if you could bottle happiness, my little bottle would be walking along a ridge, with amazing panoramic views, and the sun shining and the breeze blowing. It really is a great feeling and one that has to be experienced to be believed and understood.

View of Kielder

Up next was ‘man eating bog- part 2’. Joyce and Colin had already pre warned us about this
, so we were given an alternate route that happily took past the bogs. We crossed the border into bonnie Scotland, the wee bogs had not got the better of us lads and lasses (and dog!).

Crossing the border  - no passport required (yet)

After passing the border we walked along the ridge, and a sign said to watch out for some wild ‘Ferrell Goats’. Unfortunately we didn’t see any- what a let down! We crossed a bridge then walked a few more miles then had our lunch. 

Wilderness

We could see Windy Gyle, about 4 miles away. We walked onto the top of a little hill, really a ridge connection to Windy Gyle. We stopped for a break (we stop to stock up on chocolate every 2 miles or so) to prepare ourselves, then walked up to the much needed wind shelter. 

A much needed break

It was very windy, but the wind shelter provided some protection.

Top of Windy Gyle

The day was really beautiful, not too cold, nor to hot so we could see for miles. Paddy rolled around on the grass then played dead.

View from the top

This is where we left the PW for today, as literally we were in the middle of nowhere, so we had to walk an extra 3 miles. Our feet were really hurting, and the miles dropping off Windy Gyl dragged o forever, but a bit of singing and we hit the farm track in the bottom of the valley. It was really beautiful as we walked along the river and the light was golden on the Cheviots. Oh, this reminds me; Why, why oh why, if we are walking the Pennine, I repeat Pennine, Way, why are we walking along the Cheviots? Why? Anyway, we reached our accommodation for the night; the Deer Hut. No, it is not just a hut, as I thought, but a nice little house with kitchen and bedrooms and a HUGE bath. Hayleigh and Neil, mentioned before, bought us some food and had a nice chat in our hut.

Well, see you tomorrow (or today, or now if you are reading my next post now) for our last day- it promises to be a good one!

Caitlin xx